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PREFACE

This publication covers the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from Key West to the Rio Grande, including the harbors and adjacent navigable inland passages, and is based upon the work of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, including the results of a special examination in 1935. The territory covered is the same as covered by the previous edition of this publication and the Inside Route Pilot, Key West to the Rio Grande.

Navigators and others are requested to notify the Director, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, of any errors or omissions that may be found in this publication, or of any additional matter which they think should be inserted for the information of mariners.

Corrections and additions affecting Coast Pilot volumes are included in Notice to Mariners, published weekly by the United States Department of Commerce. The aids to navigation mentioned in this pilot are those in existence, according to the latest available information, on March 18, 1936. A supplement is issued, giving the more important changes to the text, about a year after a Coast Pilot volume is published, and again at approximately yearly intervals thereafter until a revised edition appears. Each supplement is complete in itself and cancels all previous issues. The date of the latest supplement to each Coast Pilot is given in the list of Coast Pilots published quarterly in Notice to Mariners.

In using this volume, reference should be made to the latest Supplement and Notice to Mariners (both of which may be obtained free from sales agents or the Washington Office or Field Stations of this Bureau) and due regard should be given to the possibility of changes having occurred since the date of publication.

This edition was prepared by Lt. Comdr. Harold A. Cotton, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, under the direction of Commander F. B. T. Siems, chief, coast pilot section. The United States Engineers, the United States Lighthouse Service and other authorities all cooperated in furnishing information.

MARCH 18, 1936.

VI

R. S. PATTON, Director.

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UNITED STATES COAST PILOT
GULF COAST-KEY WEST TO THE
RIO GRANDE

The courses and bearings given in degrees are true, reading clockwise from 0° at north to 359, and are followed by the corresponding magnetic course in points, in parentheses. General directions, such as northeastward, west-southwestward, etc., are magnetic.

Distances are in nautical miles and may be converted approximately to statute miles by adding 15 percent to the distances given.

Currents are expressed in knots, which are nautical miles per hour.

Except where otherwise stated, all depths are at mean low water.

In accordance with the desire of the International Hydrographic Bureau, each depth is followed, in parentheses, by its equivalent in meters.

Heights are given in feet with metric equivalent in
parentheses.

The abbreviations Bn., Lt., and dist. are often used for
Beacon, Light, and distant.

Use this Coast Pilot with reference to the latest Sup-
plement that may have been published and the Notices
to Mariners issued after the date of the edition of this
pilot and the Supplement.

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

THE COAST

The information contained in this volume, United States Coast Pilot-Gulf Coast, relates to the Gulf of Mexico from Key West to the Rio Grande, including the harbors and adjacent inland waterways; it embraces that part of the coast of Florida bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

The entire Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast northward to Cape Romain are shown on Chart No. 1007. The other charts covering that part of the coast included in this volume are indicated on the index map.

Within the limits of this volume the general coast line has a length of 1,629 miles, and is low and generally sandy, presenting no marked natural features to the mariner approaching it from seaward. The principal points and harbor entrances are marked by lighthouses,

1

which are the chief guides for approaching or standing along the coast.

Eastward of New Orleans, the back country is generally wooded and as far east as the St. Marks River frequently has an elevation of from 10 to 25 feet (3.0 to 7.6 m) or more.

Westward of New Orleans the country along the coast is generally low flat grass land, the only points of any elevation being several "islands" (small solitary hills) to the northwestward of Atchafalaya Bay and two similar but lower "islands" near Galveston. Belle Island (elev. 130 feet), Cote :Blanche Island (elev. 70 feet), Weeks Island (elev. 204 ft.) and Avery Island (approx. elev. 200 feet) are 6, 28, 35, and 12 miles. respectively northwestward of the mouth of the Atchafalaya River and High Island (elev. 40 feet) and Bryan Mound (approx. elev. 25 feet) are 27 miles northeastward and 38 miles southwestward, respectively, from Galveston.

From the south shore of the Florida mainland, the Florida Keys and Florida Reefs extend for more than 100 miles to the westward. They are of coral, sand, and shell formation with frequent shoal coral patches on the reefs. They form, the northern boundary of the Straits of Florida, the northern approach and entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. Toward the western end there are several openings between the keys offering passage from the straits into the Gulf.

From Key West to Apalachee Bay the bottom is largely of a coral formation, with occasional spots of less depths than the surrounding bottom.

From Mississippi Sound to Galveston Bay the bottom is sand and silt, with several shoals lying well offshore, which change to some extent with severe storms; with the variable currents which are often encountered they are a serious menace to the navigator passing near them.

From Galveston to the Rio Grande the bottom is sandy, fairly regular, and free from off-lying dangers. In about latitude 27° N., where the trend of the coast changes from southwest to southeast, a counter current is formed which attains a considerable velocity of rotation and has been called the whirlpool of the Gulf. Vessels and barges disabled or broken adrift in the waters southeastward frequently go ashore abreast of this whirlpool.

Air-photo maps covering extensive sections of the coastal areas of the United States are published by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. These maps give detailed topographic features but no elevations, contours, or depths. For information as to depths, the nautical charts of the coast must be used. The maps vary considerably in size, being laid out to conform with the coast line as conveniently as possible. The average size is about 44 inches by 24 inches or a nearly equivalent area. The scale of the maps varies, the majority being on a scale of 1:20,000 but a 1:10,000 scale and at times a 1:5,000 scale is used. On these scales, the approximate area covered by an average sheet is 80 square miles (nautical), 20 square miles, and 5 square miles, respectively.

Index sheets showing the geographical layout of these maps may be secured from the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. Č. The maps are sold to the public at 75 cents per copy.

Along the Gulf coast of the United States, these air-photo maps are available for the following areas:

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